Cyndi Lauper has finally received her long-overdue recognition with her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2025. The New York icon, known for her unmistakable voice and fearless sense of style, took her place among the greats at the ceremony held at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre. It was a celebration not only of her career but of her spirit – one built on creativity, individuality and activism. Lauper called the honour “humbling,” saying she was proud to stand alongside women who helped shape the sound and soul of rock music, adding that “a win for one of us is a win for all of us.”
Her journey to this moment is pure Cyndi. The release of She’s So Unusual in 1983 turned the music world on its head, fusing new wave energy with punk attitude and pop hooks that became global anthems. Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Time After Time and True Colors didn’t just top charts – they defined an era. She’s spent decades evolving, tackling blues, penning a Tony Award–winning musical (Kinky Boots), and championing equality and LGBTQ+ rights long before it was mainstream. Her induction feels like recognition for an artist who never stopped pushing boundaries and never stopped believing that music could make the world brighter.
The ceremony itself was electric. Chappell Roan inducted Lauper, paying tribute to her as a pioneer who made it cool to be different. Lauper’s performance brought the house down – she opened with a soaring rendition of True Colors, joined RAYE for Time After Time, and then turned the stage into a technicolour party with Girls Just Want to Have Fun, backed by an all-female band and guest cameos from Avril Lavigne and Salt-N-Pepa. In her acceptance speech, she reminded the audience that “rock and roll can save the world” and urged everyone to “come together again and do good in the world because it needs us.”
Cyndi Lauper’s induction isn’t just a career milestone – it’s a reminder that authenticity never goes out of style. Her influence runs deep, from music to fashion to social change, and this moment cements her as more than a pop icon. She’s a cultural force, a rebel with purpose, and proof that when you stay true to your colour, the world eventually catches up.
Congratulations Cyndi 🙂
Main Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for RRHOF
